Hydraulic power-transmission system for wheeled vehicles.



B. s. WILLIAMS. I HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR WHEELED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION LILED NOV. 18, 1912.

Patented June 16, 1914;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR khan/v WITNESSES ATTORNEYS B. s. WILLIAMS. HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR WHEELED VEHICLES. 1,100,004.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 18, 1912 Patented June 16,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\ INVENTOR ziw/fi/ m/j Maw/ma;

WITNESS/58 f A TTORNEYS UN ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN s. WILLIAMS, or NASHViLLE, TENNESSEE, Assienon 'ro WILLIAMS AUTO MOBILE-TRANSMISSION COMPANY, OF or TE Np'ss E- NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION sYnRAnLIo POWER-TRANSMISSION-SYSTEM FOR WHEELED VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1914.

Application filed November 18, 1912. serial No. 731,9'ee.

To all 41 710172, it may com-c7 21 Be it known that I, BENJAMIN S. WIL- 1.1.\Ms, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have in-. ventechcertain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Power-Transmission Systems a time to vary the pressure and volume of the liquid as transmitted to the driven units. H. To enable the operator to reverse the direction of travel of the liquid as between the driving units and the driven units.the reversal taking place as to all of the units which happen to be in action at the time. III. To eliminate the necessity for differential gears, transmission gears, truss rods, clutch, knuckle joints. driving shafts, cog members, and various metallic transmission members. IV. To improve various parts used in connection with systems of the kind above mentioned for the purpose of improving the general efliciencv thereof.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is aplan view of an automobile driving mechanism equipped with my im proved transmission gearing; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the same :Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation the mechanism used for throwingthe dI'iV- ing units one at a time into and out of action; Fig. 4' is a detail view showing a hori- 'zont-al section through'the reverslng'valve;

is taken in a-plane at right angles to said figure; Fig; 7 is a detail showing in perspective one of the abutments used in the driving units or pumps; Fig. 8 is a detail showing oneof the pistons used in the driving units. The vehicle frame is shown at 9, the front wheels at 10,, and the rear wheels at 11. As-

sociated with the rear wheels 11 are two axle casings 12, the latter being secured upon two motors or driven units 13, each of the latter being in the nature ofa-rotary hydraulic motor. Each'of these driven units is provided with a rev'oluble axle section 14, these two axle sections extending through the axle casings 12 and carrying the rear wheels.-

fivehicle frame is provided with cross bars 18, 19, 20, and betweenthe bars 19, 20, are forwardly extending beams 21. Mounted upon these beams are a number ,of driving units 22, 23, 24, each being in the nature of a rotary hydraulic pump. Connected with the driving units 22, 23, 24, for conveying a motor liquid to and from the same are pipes 25, 26. The pipe 26 will be provided with check valves 26, 26", to prevent the units 22, 23, and 24 from back pressure of one to the other. That is to say, when only one or two are in action, material will not be forced through the units not in action.

pipes are'conn'ected'toa reversing valve 27". Connected with this valve are two pipe sections 28, 29, which are rigid, and connected :with these pipe sections are two other pipe sections 30, 31, which are flexible. The pi c section 31 isconnected to a Y-piece 32, tiie latter atits outer ends being connected with the driven units 13. The flexible pipe section 30 is connected with a Y piece 33, the latter at its outer ends also being connected with the driven units, 13. For the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid into and out of the driven units 13, I provide a' T bar These lever is adapted-to be turned or rocked into different angular positions and is provided with a quadrant orsector 39 for the convenien ce Qf operator the hand lever into different positions and retaining it in such positions. (I provide another hand lever 46 and sector 41, the hand lever 40 being mounted'rigidlyupon the end, at the rocking shaft 42, the'sector being carried by the bracket 42 which'is rigid upon the vehicle frame. The rocking shaft 42 carries a cam 43, the latter having a slot 44 of a general arcuate form as will be understood from Fig. The slot 44 is provided with a slight bend Extending into this slot- 44 are the ends of the-three levers 46, 47 48, the levers 46 and 48 being bent as indicated in Fig.- 1, the lever 47 being straight.

(arried by the crossbaris a bracket 48 and mounted upon the latter is a pivot pin 47 upon which, the levers 46, 4'7. 48 are mounted and free to rock. Each driving unit: 22. 23. 24, is provided with.supporting flanges 49, having bolt holes 50 through which extend bolts. The'three driving units are alike in construction and may be understood from a description of the driving unit numbered 22 and shown more particularly m F1gs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. Each driving unit is provided. with a compartment 51 of cylindrical formand with openings 52. 53, the inner ends of which merge into the compartment 51 and serve as ports. The unit is further provided with a slot 54 and slidably mounted within the latter is an abutment Extending upwardly from this abutment is a stem 56 which is rendered fluid tight by aid of a packing nut 57 and packing 57 The upper end of the stem 56 carries an eye 58 so that by raising and lowering the stem 56 by aid ofthis eye the abutment- 55 is raised or lowered. The several abutnicnts of the driving units are independent of each other-at least to the extent that one may be raised or lowered without at the same time raising or lowering the others. Located within the compartment 51 is a rotor 59 having a cylindrical form so that. the peripheral surface'of this rotor is concentric to the peripheral surface or boundary of the coin-- Ipartment 51. Upon each side of the driving unit are two packing nuts 61 and packings 62 for the purpose of rendering the device fluid-tight. These packings may be of any desired form suitable for the purpose. At 63 are two cam grooves, the form of which is nearly but not quite annular, each groove being provided with a comparatively straight portion 639215 will be understood from Fig. 5;. The rotor 59 carries two pistons 64, each having the form of a slide and provided at its ends with guide rollers 65. These guide rollers extend into the cam grooves 63 so that as the rotor 59 turns the slides 64 are of the port-ion 63 as shown in Fig. 5. Two

springs 66 extend diametrically through the middle portion of the rotor and press'against the piston 64. as will be understood from Fig. 6. These springs by pressing the pistons outwardly tend to maintain them fluid-tightrelatively to other parts.

Referring more action of the driving unit may be readily understood. lVhen the rotor 59 is turned by the engine shaft. the pistons 64. are carried around and as they thus travel they cause the circulation of the liquid. The abutment is-normally stationary and is used merely to throw the unit into and out of action. Each timconeol the pistons 64 approaches the almtment 55 the piston moves slightly inward or toward the clutter of rotation and thus passes under the abutment 55. As there are two of the pistons 64. the fact that 'one of them isidle while passing the abutment does not interfere materially with the "work oft-he other piston. One or the other of the two pistons is always efiective while the engine is in action. 'Whener'er the abutment 55 is raised, the rotor 59 turns idly and has no tendency to cause the circulation of the liquid into and out of the unit.

The driven units 13 are of substantially the same construction as the driving units above described, the only difference being that they are in' this instance made somewhat larger and occupy different positions relatively to the pa"ts which supporttthem. As will be understood from Figs. 1 and 4. the driven units 13 are disposed horizontall. rather than vertically reckoning from a plane passing through the greatest dimenison of each unit. The co1npartment68. bounded by the wall 67, the pistons 69, andthe abutment 70. correspond in structure to the analogous parts above described in connection with Figs. 5 to R inclusive. llach driven unit 13 is provided with a stein 7'1 corrt sponding in structure and action to the stem 56 shown at the top of Fig. 5. The two stems 71 'ot' the driven units 1?) are connected with the ends of the T. bar 34.

The reversing valve 27 is provided with a revoluble plug-72. This plug is provided with a number of longitudinal passages 73. 74. 75. parallel with each other and with another passage 77 which crosses the passages 73, 7:4 and 75. and is located lower than 'thesame. The passage 77 is provided with upwardly extendingportions 78 which are located in the same plane as the passages 73. 74, 75.

The valve plug 72- may be turned or rotated to the extent of 90 degrees or one quarter of a revolution. With the valve 72 in the position indicated in Fig. 4, the pipe section QS'is connected through the passage 73 with thc'pipe section 25 and the pipe section 29-ls similarly connected through the passage 75 articularly to Fig, 5.fthe

valve plug 72 be rotated to the eXtQn tQOfQO degrees say ina clockwise direction, thepas-.

glue to run and have no efl'ect on units 22, 23 24, as a-pum'ping device.

lever, 40-is pressed forward the units 22, 23,

sages 73 and 75 are thrown out of registry with-the pipe sections. Thepassage H extends obliquely acrossfrom the pipe section 25 to the pipe section 29 and the passage 77 also extends'obliquely across from the passage 28 to the passage 26. If now the valve plug 7 2 be rotated back into its original position, the connections are restored, the parts again assuming the positions indicated in Fig. 4: Thus by turning the valve 72 a quarter of a revolution the pipe sections shown in Fig. 4 are virtually crossed so that a liquid first passing frointhe pipe section 28 through the valve into the pipe section. now passes from the pipe section'28 into the pipe-section 26. Similarly, the liquid passing from the pipe section 26 through the valve plug and into the pipe section 29 now crosses over and passes into the pipe section" 2S. The reversing valve 27 is provided wlth" a worm gearing 79 to facilitate the turning of the valve plug.

The driven units and the'conneeting pipes are filled with 'al liquid preferably oil which furnishes the medium for transmitting the energy from the driving units to the 'driven units.

IIn shifting the hand lever 40 forward or backward so that-the portion i5 of the slot 44 receivgs any one of the levers 46, 4.7;48, the lever in' question is raised or lowered gradually depending upon the, slope of the portion 45 of the slot. The operator, therefore, by a skilful handling of'the lever 40, may lift each one of the levers 46, 47,48, very gradually. In doing this, he causes the particular driving unit thus effective to apply only a portion'of the ower of which it is capable of exerting. di or instance, if the lever 40 be so handled as to raise the abutment 55, shown in Fig. '5 for the distance equal to one-half of the full efi'ect-iv distance of travel of the abutment, the driving. unit will cause a circulation of liquid equal in volume to substantially one-half of the amount of liquid it would cause to circulate if the abutment were lowered to its limit of trave L- Therefore as the hand lever 40 is pressed slowly forward the speed of the machine is increased gradually and this increase of speed is in direct inverse ratio to that exerted upon the rear wheels 11. In this relation my device serves all purposes of a speed changing gear. It also dispenses with the necessity for a clutch. Thus when the level-'40 is in a backward position all members 55 are up which will allow the en- 7 However, as the 24, begin pumping and thus will cause the carto begin moving.

. most positions.

above described and a suitable quantity ofplaced in the liquid preferably --oil being various pipes, driving units, and drlven units, so-asto completely fill the system, the

valve 27 is adjusted, say int-o the'pos'ition in- .dicated in Fig. 4 and the engine is started up. The hand lever 40 normally occupies the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The levers 46, 47,48 are therefore down and the abutments 55 are in their respective upper- The leverAO is now swun forwardly so that-the lever 48 is raised an the corresponding abutment 55 is forward. This throws the driving unit 24 into action, If the hand lever be ressed still farther forward-the driving uni s 23 and 22 aresuc- .cessively thrown into action. The hand lever 38 being actuated the T bar 34 is drawn backward-1y so as to throwthe driven units 13' into action. -The oil now passes in the directionindicated by'the arrows in Fig. 1 sothat the rear wheels .11 are turned by the driven units 13 and the vehicle is propelled accordingly. g

If slow'speed and high power he desired, only one of the driyingun-its is thrown into action. .If greater'speed and less power he desired two or threeofthe driving units are broughtinto play. This is upon the prin: ciple that the total available power-of the engine is distributed as between 1, 2 or 3 of ing units whereas if theengine is torotate rapidly upon a level road all of the driving units are brought into play.

VVi-th this apparatus no differential gears are required. The axle sections'l l being independent of each other and separately driven by the driven units 13, the rotation of the wheels 11 is in the aggregate commensurate with the amount of liquid passing through both of the driven units 13. Since, however. the distribution of liquid as between these two driven units may vary according to the resistance to rotation encountered by the two rearg wheels ll, one

of these wheels can turn faster than the other. The vehicle is thus well adapted for turning curves, the .rear wheels acting in a manner analogous to that in whi'ch they.

would actif they were controlled by differential gearing;

hand lever 38, may be used as a hydraulic The driven. units 13, under control ofthe' brake, and in this relation are adapted for controlling the speed of the vehicle when it tends to run down hill by the action. of gravity. That is to say, as the vehicle tends to run down hill the driven units 13 offer resistance and will-serve to pump oil through the entire system,whereas if the member 70 drawn for rardit will serve to minimize all resistance and allow the ear'to' coast freely. As in the first instance, the member.- 70 will serve'as a brake and in other in} stance will serve to save power as the engine may be cut off and the circulation liquid stop. V v

I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown as. variations may be made th erein without departing from the spirit. of my invention.

"hat I claim as new and desire to secure.

by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. power transmission system eo1npris ing a. plurality of hydraulic driving units, a plurality, of hydraulic drlven units, plpe connections extending from said driven units to all of said drivingunits, a sliding. abutment for each driving unit for the pur-' pose of controlling the flow of liquid therethrough, alever connected with each sliding abutment for the purpose of adjusting the same in".order to increase or diminish the fiow of said liquid,'a cam provided with a slot through which said levers extend; and means controllable at the will of the operator for moving said cam in order to shift said levers.

2.A power transmission system for \vheeled vehicles including a pair of hydraulic driven units, revoluble axles connected with .said driven unitsnwheels mounted upon said axles. a plurality of hydraulic driving units. a sliding abutment for each drivmg unit, a lever-for each shdingabutment. a cam provided with a slot through ,which said levers extend, and means for rocking said cam.

3. A power transmission system for a wheeled vehicles con'iprising a 'vehicle frame.

a. plurality of shaft sections carried by said frame and revoluble relatively to the same, a wheel mounted upon each shaft section, a plurality of hydraulic driven units each connectedwith ashaft section, a plurality of hydraulic driving units. connections from sald driving units to said driven'units for the purposeof conveying. fluid from said driving units to said driven'units, a slidingabutment mounted within each driven 'unit' for, the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid within the same-{and mechanism connected with all of said sliding .abutinents and controllable at thewill of the operator for actuating said sliding abutments. I I system for wheeled vehicles comprising a vehicle frame,

4. A power transmission a pair of shaft sections journaled upon said vehicle frame and disposed in alinement with each other, a wheel carried by each shaft section and adapted to engage the ground for the purpose of propelling the vehicle, a. hydraulic driven ,motor for each of said shaft sections. a slidingabutmeut mounted withiireach hydraulic driven motor for controlling the flow of a liquid through the same, means controllable at the will of the operator for adjusting said sliding'abutments so as to control the flow of liquid through both of said hydraulic driven units, the speed of rotation of each driven unitbeing controllable in. part by the resistance to rotation offered by the wheel engaging the ground and in part by the position :of the sliding abutment for said last mentioned unit so that the shaft sections may turnat ditferent rates of speed, and a motor mechanism for forcing a. fluid through said hydraulic driven units.

5. A power transmission system comprising a plurality of. hydraulic driving units, a plurality of hydraulic driven units, pipe connections extending from said driven units, to, all of said driving units, a sliding abutment for each driving unit for the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid therethrouglfr, a leverconnected with each sliding abutment for the purpose of adjusting the same in order to increase or diminish the flow of said liquid, and means for actuating said levers in a predetermined order of succession.

6. A power transmission system for wheeled vehicles including a pair of hydra! lie driven units, revoluble axles connected with said driven unit-s, wheels mounted upon said axles, a. plurality of hydraulic driving units, a sliding abutment for each driving unit, a. lever for each sliding abutment, a

cam provided with a slot through which said levers extend. and means for rocking said cam.

7 A transmission system for wheeled vehicles including a pair of hydraulic driven units, revoluble axles connectedqvit n said driven units, wheels mounted upon said axles, a plurality of. hydraulic driving units, a sliding abutment for each driving unit and means for successively shifting the abutments at the will of the operator.-

8. The combination with an automobile, of a driving mechanism therefor, including a plurality of hydraulic driving elements, a sliding abutment for each driving unit, means for successively shifting the sliding abutments at the will of the operator, and means actuated by the driving elements for propelling the automobile.

BENJAMIN s. WILLIAMS.

Vitnesses WALTON HARRISON, R. T. BASSETT. 

